A NAFTA panel has supported the U.S. International Trade Commission’s decision regarding Softwood lumber imports from Canada, though British Columbia’s trade association still hopes to win ultimately.
The U.S. Lumber Coalition praised the decision, which backed the ITC’s determination in December that the imports materially injured Americans. “The evidence presented to the ITC was clear–the massive subsidies that the Canadian government provides to its lumber industry and the dumping of lumber products into the U.S. market by Canadian companies cause real harm to U.S. producers and workers,” said Jason Brochu, co-chair of the coalition and co-owner of Pleasant River Lumber in Dover-Foxcroft, ME.
The BC Lumber Trade Council said it was disappointed by the decision and that the ITC determination was “flawed and without merit.” Despite the decision, it said Canada still has pending World Trade Organization and NAFTA challenges to the U.S. Commerce Department’s countervailing duty and anti-dumping duty determinations that have not been resolved.
“We will continue to work with the government of Canada to vigorously defend against baseless U.S. trade action on Softwood lumber,” said Susan Yurkovich, council president.
More information is available at www.uslumbercoalition.org
